THE LAST STEAM-WORKED PUSH-PULL TRAINS ON BR
LIKE the Southern Region, the London Midland inherited a range of push-pull engines and trailers from its many pre-Grouping companies.
Examples included several ex-Midland Railways ‘1P’ 0-4-4s along with ex-LNWR and L&Y ‘2P’ 2-4-2 tanks.
When Stanier became chief mechanical engineer (CME) of the LMS in 1932 his first design was a Class ‘2P’ 0-4-4 (numbered in BR days 41900 to 41909), an updated version of the old Midland tank engines. Two of the engines – Nos. 41905 and 41906 – were based at Buxton for use on the push-pull trains to Miller’s Dale, but these, along with all but one of the class, were withdrawn in December 1959. The exception was No. 41900, based at Bromsgrove (from 1958 a WR shed), but after a period in store it was withdrawn in March 1962.
Ironically, two of the ex-Midland tanks – No. 58085 and 58086 – also survived until 1959. No. 58085 was active on push-pull trains between Rolleston and Southwell, Nottinghamshire, until June 1959, when the line closed, while No. 58086 lingered in store at Bath (Green Park) until 1960. For many years the engine was based at the ex-S&D shed at Highbridge and worked push-pull trains between Glastonbury and Wells (Priory Road). The line was closed inOctober
